OCTOBER 2023
It is hard to believe that we have made it through our first month already! The crying has finally died down a bit (that’s the parents at the door…not the children!!). And the teachers have begun to fill up the bulletin boards with plenty of ARTWORK! You should have enough for a small suitcase by the end of the year!!
TIP: Showcase your child’s art when they bring it home and when it is time, you can take a picture of it and make an album of your child’s artwork. Or, you can just save it all and end up with two giant Rubbermaid bins full and stuff those in your storage locker. Well, that’s what I did, anyway!!
Bears in the Treehouse Room
THANK YOU to everyone for being so patient with our FEES FIASCO this year! The CCFRI fee rebate program put on by the Provincial Government is a great program that helps to lower parents’ fees each month but unfortunately, we must follow all their guidelines and because they were several months behind because they increased their program to include Preschools and Out of School Care centres, we did not get word until October!! All the final updated fee schedules have been sent out so if you have not received yours, please contact the office. If you have any questions about the CCFRI program, please do not hesitate to contact the admin. staff.
Year at a Glance
Please make sure you have your Year at a Glance (calendar of events) handy so you know what is going on at school. Take a picture of it with your phone so you have it with you at all times! Please get involved and come out to our events and meet the other families in our little preschool community! Put your cellphones away, make playdates for your children and help support our many fundraisers. Getting involved in your child’s school is the best way you can support them and their love of learning!
Make it stand out
Additions:
WED. NOV. 1st - Purdys Chocolate Fundraiser Opens
SAT. NOV. 25th - St. Catherine’s Dinner & Dance (more info to come)
UPCOMING CLOSURES:
Mon., Oct. 2nd: Truth & Reconciliation Day
Mon., Oct. 9th: Thanksgiving Day
Mon., Nov. 13th: Remembrance Day
September in the Classrooms
Normally I would get this Blog out at the beginning of the month but it has been a crazy month! I’m a little behind in my paperwork these days! But, after sending out this monthly information, we should be back on track!!
Things may be behind in the office but things are moving along in the classrooms! Please check out all the amazing things that are happening!
RAINBOW ROOM: Danielle (T/Th), Rebecca (M/W), Vibha (M-Th)
A warm welcome to our new and returning families! We extend our thanks to all parents for their patience and support throughout the gradual entry process, which has been a great success.
Our youngest members at St. Catherine’s Preschool are beginning to settle comfortably into our program. While most are eager to explore and expand their horizons, a few may still require a bit more time to feel secure when saying goodbye. This is normal, especially as this might be their first experience away from family.
Our classrooms are designed to encourage exploration and discovery through play. A significant portion of our time is dedicated to activities like painting, exploring at the water table, engaging in housekeeping corner, singing and dancing during circle time, although play tends to be more individual at this stage.
In the upcoming weeks, we will be exploring themes related to Thanksgiving, Halloween and the beauty of Autumn.
We are still waiting for more family photos as children absolutely cherish looking at these photos.
Our goal is to ensure that this group experience is enjoyable and unforgettable, one for both you and your child.
Please feel free to talk to us if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to an exciting year ahead.
Vibha, Danielle & Rebecca.
TREEHOUSE ROOM: Gabi (M-F), Karen (M-F), Mary (M-F), Carol (T/Th), Catriona (MWF)
Transition & Friendship:
September marks the beginning of a new school year, and at our preschool, it's a time of transition, reflection, and the fostering of important values. As the children returned to our warm and welcoming environment, we embarked on a journey of learning, growth, and building lasting connections.
Smooth Transitions:
One of the most beautiful aspects of September is witnessing how seamlessly children transition back into the preschool routine. It's a testament to their resilience and adaptability. With smiles on their faces, they eagerly embraced the familiar surroundings, reconnecting with friends and teachers. It's heartwarming to see the camaraderie that has developed among our little learners over time.
Sharing Summer Stories:
As we gathered in our cozy circle time, the children excitedly shared their summer adventures. Their eyes sparkled as they recounted trips to the beach, hikes in the forest, summer vacations and family picnics. It's incredible how these stories provide a window into their worlds outside of preschool and deepen the bonds among the children.
Exploring British Columbia's Wildlife:
In September, we delved into the fascinating world of British Columbia's wildlife and our local surroundings. We introduced the children to the rich biodiversity that our province offers, from the majestic bald eagle to the elusive black bear. The children's eyes widened with wonder as they learned about these incredible creatures through books, pictures, felt stories and interactive discussions. Connecting with the natural world is an essential part of our curriculum, fostering an appreciation for the environment.
Friendship Salad and Truth and Reconciliation:
One of the highlights of our month was creating a Friendship Salad with the children. This activity had a special purpose beyond just making a delicious treat.
Children were asked to bring in a piece of fruit from home, and together, we made a colorful salad. As they placed their fruits into a communal basket, we discussed how every fruit was unique, just like each child in our preschool. The salad symbolized our unity and the strength that comes from embracing our differences.
We also read age-appropriate books and shared stories about Indigenous cultures, emphasizing the values of empathy, respect, and friendship. It was heartwarming to see the children embrace these lessons with open hearts and minds.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the families who contributed fruit for our Friendship Salad. Your support and involvement in these meaningful activities are vital in helping our preschool community grow and learn together.
Looking Ahead:
As September comes to a close, we are filled with excitement for the months ahead. Our preschool is a place of continuous growth, exploration, and celebration of diversity. We look forward to more enriching experiences, joyful laughter, and valuable lessons as we embark on this educational journey together.
September has set the stage for a year filled with friendship, learning, and fostering a deeper understanding of the world around us. It's a time to appreciate our little learners and the incredible potential they hold in their hearts and minds. We can't wait to see what the rest of the school year has in store for us!
Treehouse Teachers,
Gabi, Karen, Mary, Carol, Catriona
SUNFLOWER ROOM (MWF)- Carol, Danielle
Welcome back! We are very excited to meet our new friends in the Sunflower Classroom.
We are looking forward to spending the next school year with our new friends. We will be learning, playing and discovering new things. We will be making new friends, exploring art and learning to listen and sit at circle time.
For the first few weeks of School, we spent lots of time playing and learning about our new classroom & friends. We sang name games and action rhymes. We also learnt about our number one rule “No-one Gets Hurt”. We read “Words are Not for hurting”, “The Grouchy Ladybug” & “Swimmy”. We also introduced the game ‘Stop & Go’, where we use pictures of things that are a stop or a go…We also used our thumbs up or down as we don’t always have our stop signs on us. We listened to the felt rhymes Little Red Bug & 3 Jelly Fish. We went for a walk and looked around our neighborhood. For art we used our hands to make flowers for our Sunflower poster, put spots on our Ladybugs and made our own fish to be part of ‘the big fish’ as we work together as a team.
We moved onto exploring Ourselves and our Families. For circle we talked about who lives in our house and what colour hair/eyes we had. We read “Whoever You Are”, “Little Humans” & “I’m Like You, You’re Like Me”. We also visited the Music Room and played some games. For art we used a mirror to work out what colour eyes & hair we have, where our nose & lips go to make a self-portrait. We used rectangles and triangles to make our own houses – some were small, some wide and some were tall. In the water table we had small houses and people to play with. We had babies and baby stuff in the home corner.
For the last week of September, we talked about how to be a ‘Good Friend’ and that we can use our words to play with friends and say ‘Stop’, if we don’t like something. We read “Fox Makes Friends”, “Beaver & The Echo”, “My Heart Fills with Happiness”, “When we are Kind” & “Goodnight World”. We listened to the felt stories “The Lion & The Mouse and The Bear & the Crow”. We played the game Animals of the Salish Sea & What Animals is Missing? In the music room we played ‘The Hokey Pokey’ and sang songs while playing music with the drums. We read the Book “Our Orange Hearts” and danced with scarves to the ‘Tayaka Slolem’ (Wolf Song) performed by the Spakwus Slolem /Eagle Song Dancers from Squamish Nation. This was a collaboration of the Musqueam, Squamish Nation & Tslieil-Waututh Nation. We made friendship bracelets, triangular paper plate Fox faces and landscape paintings using indigenous designs of animals. In the Home Corner we set up a Hair Dressing Salon and we all had a courtesy wash, blow dry, style and our nails done.
In October we will be talking about Thanksgiving, Fall, Fire Safety and Halloween.
Please remember to pack more food than less (one container for snack & one for lunch) as we are here for 4.5 hours a day, so the children get hungry. We have seen some yummy lunch/snack suggestions over the last few weeks. For e.g. veggies & dip, grilled cheese sandwich, boiled eggs, pasta in a thermos, waffles & sushi. So much variety makes the teachers want to upgrade their lunches 😊. We will also be going outside to play when it’s not raining, so pack appropriate footwear & jackets.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office so we can arrange a meeting after school hours.
Danielle & Carol
RESOURCE ROOM - Marion
Welcome, all new families and returning ones. I hope everyone has had an enjoyable Summer with lots of great memories. Gradual entry was quicker this year and seems to have been successful. Some children need a longer time to adjust and the teachers have been flexible to acknowledge this. By the end of September the children have been settling into their classroom routines.
Parallel Play
In the Discovery 2s they are learning how to share and interact with their peers. They are at the Parallel Play stage. They will play beside and around each other, but there is very little interaction during play. At circle time the children enjoy felt stories, songs and movement activities.
In the Treehouse and Sunflower Rooms the play is becoming more cooperative and interactive. The children are learning to be more independent by going up and down the stairs while holding the railing. They are hanging up their coats, taking out their snack/lunch kits and placing them in their cubbies.
Children learn language and develop literacy skills through play. Play fosters creativity and imagination in the world around them. Children learn to make decisions, problem solve, negotiate and manage stress.
We have an open door policy. Please speak with the teachers if you have any comments or concerns. You can also email me in the office.
* KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION opens October 12th to Dec 15th, 2023 for September 2024. Please refer to the North Vancouver District 44 web site for more information.